Griezmann famously turned down an offer to join Barcelona last season, detailing his internal struggles about whether to make the move in a landmark documentary called The Decision, which was produced by a company owned by Barca’s Gerard Pique.

Catalan newspaper Sport said on their front cover that Barca have set their sights on Griezmann again and plan to fund paying his release clause of 120 million euros ($134.9 million) by selling Brazilian Philippe Coutinho, who cost them a club record 165 million. Place bet on Live Events 24/7 on NaijaBet

The South American duo will be ready to face Liverpool together for the first time in Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg at the Nou Camp, aiming to help Barca reach the final for the first time in four years.

Liverpool took years to recover from him leaving for Barca in 2014 for a club record 75 million pounds, finishing sixth and eighth respectively in their next two seasons until Jurgen Klopp transformed their fortunes.

Adri Embarba scored the only goal by converting a penalty midway through the first half and Madrid, aside from an effort by Mariano that was correctly ruled out for offside, rarely looked like equalising.

“Sometimes you are not able to score but today we didn’t even create chances, we did nothing well. We have to all be angry with our performance. I am angry because we gave an awful image of ourselves.” Start forecasting your Champions League games Now

The forward has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, last appearing in the 5-1 win over Lyon in the last 16 second leg clash on March 13, and has been waiting for medical clearance before he can feature.

Ernesto Valverde named 22 players on Monday who will travel to Manchester, with four to be left out of the 18-man matchday squad. Latest Champions League Odds

Dembele has impressed at Barcelona this season after struggling in his first campaign following a 147 million euro ($165 million) move from Borussia Dortmund in August 2017.

Atletico play Barcelona on Saturday at the Camp Nou, where Griezmann could have been walking out behind Lionel Messi, a few weeks from almost certainly winning a La Liga title, perhaps a domestic double, and possibly the Champions League too.

Griezmann might even have gone a year earlier, in the summer of 2017, when Manchester United thought he was theirs until the Frenchman opted to sign a new contract, persuaded that Atletico’s transfer ban would prevent them from buying a replacement.

But his new deal was not definitive, with a release clause included that would drop to 100 million euros 12 months later. Place bet on Live Matches 24/7

“Of course he can leave at some point,” said coach Diego Simeone shortly afterwards.

“I love watching my players grow, and if one of them tells me they have the unique opportunity of playing for a certain team, after they did everything they could for me, like Griezmann has done, I’ll say it’s not a problem.

Real fell 13 points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona after their ninth league loss of the campaign – the first since Zidane’s return – and are expected to shake up their squad significantly at the end of what has been a torrid season.

Even without Messi, Gerard Pique and Ivan Rakitic in their starting line-up, the visitors still strolled into the lead through a Philippe Coutinho goal in the 12th minute, which Brazilian forward Malcom soon doubled with a header. Place bet on today’s games on NaijaBet

“In the final games of the season the teams at the bottom always take a lot of points.

“We don’t have to look further than the games this week, Celta, Huesca, Rayo, they’re all going to do everything they can and we must be prepared for these type of games.” Place bet on today’s games on NaijaBet

Having sacked Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari for a series of embarrassing results, Real have decided to turn again to the former midfield great who won an unprecedented three Champions League titles in a row before resigning last May.

With Real out of the Champions League and Copa del Rey and sitting third in La Liga, 12 points behind leaders Barcelona, the only purpose for the remainder of the season is for Zidane to assess which players he wants to keep as he plots the team’s comeback in the next campaign.

Veteran defender Marcelo and Wales forward Gareth Bale are the most high profile names whose futures look uncertain under Zidane, while Dani Ceballos, Marco Asensio and Toni Kroos all have points to prove to their returning coach. Bet Now

Yet there is reason to suspect the early surge at Atletico may be longer-lasting, with a return to Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday offering a reminder of how one of the game’s most enigmatic talents is, aged 26, still to deliver on his potential.

Barca’s 3-0 victory on Wednesday means Barca will return to the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday with a spring in their step, even if Madrid were the better side and had the better opportunities until the chaotic final 30 minutes, when a Luis Suarez double and Raphael Varane own goal gave victory to the Catalans.

A repeat this weekend in La Liga would leave Santiago Solari’s side 12 points adrift of Barcelona, who would effectively have an extra point’s advantage given their superior head-to-head record. That would be a gargantuan gap to make up with 12 games left.

Atletico Madrid are closer, seven points back, and they still have to play Barca in April, albeit at the Camp Nou, where they have not won in 18 visits. But there is no doubt bumping Real out of the chase would be a major step for the Catalans. Place bet on Live Matches 24/7 on NaijaBet

Madrid were the better side for at least half of a wild Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu but three goals conceded in 28 chaotic, second-half minutes sent Barca through to the final with a 3-0 victory, 4-1 on aggregate.

“We have other players apart from Leo Messi that can score goals,” Barca coach Ernesto Valverde said. “Luis’ numbers are incredible, historic for Barca. We know he is always there.”

By then, Barca were coasting and after thrashing Madrid 5-1 at the Camp Nou in October, they will return for Saturday’s La Liga game boasting an accumulative score of 9-2 from the clubs’ three meetings this season. Bet Now on NaijaBet

Hazard, who will become a free agent in June 2020, said last year it was his dream to play for 13-times European champions Real, and British media have since reported that talks with Chelsea over a contract extension have been put on hold.

“FC Barcelona and Ernesto Valverde, the first team coach, have reached an agreement to extend the contract between the two parties for another season (2019/20) with the option for one more (2020/21),” the club said in a statement on their website.

Courtois developed into one of the world’s finest goalkeepers during three years on loan at Atletico but he will be up against his former club, and Chelsea teammate Alvaro Morata, in what could prove a pivotal city derby this weekend.

For Courtois, a reunion with Diego Simeone’s side is not new – he faced them twice for Chelsea in the Champions League last season and again at the Santiago Bernabeu in September – but this will be his first experience in front of the Atletico fans, in the colours of Real Madrid.

Madrid join Barcelona, Real Betis and Valencia in the draw for the last four on Friday.

Barca, who are chasing a record fifth cup success in a row, will be the ones to avoid but Santiago Solari’s team are gaining momentum, having won six out of their last seven games, with the resumption of the Champions League just around the corner. Start forecasting your weekend games Now

Deloitte said the rise was “primarily due to the commercial growth of €54.8million including an uplift in sponsorship, merchandising and exploitation of increasingly lucrative pre-season fixtures.”

Dan Jones, partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte said: “Real Madrid’s outstanding financial performance in 2017/18 is built on their long history of success on the pitch, most recently three consecutive Champions League titles. Place bet on LIVE Matches 24/7 on NaijaBet

Lionel Messi could make an earlier return than expected against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday but Barcelona has hardly missed him.

Four wins out of four, including a stroll past Inter Milan and a hammering of Real Madrid so severe it cost their coach his job, mean Messi reunites with a team enjoying its strongest run of the season, ironically without its star striker.

Perhaps it will depend on how much Barca need him and, in that respect, Messi’s absence has been less pronounced than many predicted 15 days ago when he tumbled and broke his right arm against Sevilla. Champions League latest odds are available on site

Circumstances have helped. After Inter, came Real, who were in a mess, Cultural Leonesa, who play in Spain’s third tier, and Rayo Vallecano, who are 19th in the table. But wins, in any form, cannot be overlooked. Real’s against Real Valladolid on Saturday was their first in six league games. Continue reading “Messi might make UCL returns against Inter Milan”